Planeptune Basilicom, 3:40pm

Kurome Ankokuboshi was an intimidating woman. Smaller than the other CPUs, yet her gaze was enough to reduce almost anyone to stammers and her voice usually lulled everyone into a sense of fear. It was the eyes. Always the eyes. In contrast to Uzume's fiery reddish eyes, Kurome's were an empty dark blue with a feint of red. No pupils, either. Her eyes were a void. A void that consumed the bravery of anyone that stared into them too long.

Except Uzume. No, Kurome's other half seemed to enjoy looking into them. It was perhaps the only thing in this world that scared her. It made their intimate moments awkward at times, but never stopped them. Uzume seemed to be blind to the fact that she was a part of Kurome... was she? The Uzume that initially banished Kurome was just a fragment, but this Uzume appears to be her own person. It's clear that this Uzume was Planeptune's CPU at one point, as she could tap into share energy effortlessly. Similarly, the sheer amount of Negative Energy generated by both swords meant that Kurome might be the most powerful person in this dimension, which would make conquering the other 3 nations by force much easier. Kurome needed their faith and facilities intact though, for rebellion could hamper her plans.

As if on cue, a Planeptunian soldier burst through the door.

"Ma'am! A PPC remnant was just arrested trying to enter the Basilicom through a security gate with invalid credentials. What should we do with them?"

Planeptunian Protection Corps. Planeptune's loyal guardians or ratherNeptune'sloyal guardians. They fought to the last, but were mostly brutalized by Kurome's newfound supporters. Uzume got out of bed to give an order, but was silenced with a wave of Kurome's hand.

"Bring her here."

Kurome said, quite smugly considering the circumstances

"What are you planning?" Uzume said, half-curious and half-scared.

Before Kurome could answer, the prisoner was brought before them: Nisa, former leader of PPC and former head of the rebellion, now clapped in handcuffs and covered in bruses.

"Well well, what have we-"
"Shut up. Kill me." Nisa was having none of Kurome's monologuing.
"How defiant of-"
"I said SHUT UP." Nisa broke free of the guard's grip and stared into Kurome's empty eyes. "Kill me."

Kurome was irritated at her defiance, but nothing showed on the surface.

"Hmm... Guard? Unrestrain her"
"Uh, ma'am?"
"You heard me."

The guard nodded sheepishly, and then unlocked Nisa's handcuffs, which fell to the floor with a very hollow clunk.

"You wanted to kill me, I assume" Kurome picked a nail file from the nigthstand, examined it, and tossed it to Nisa "So kill me, then."

Kurome fixed her gaze on Nisa, who darted her eyes from Kurome, to Uzume, and back to Kurome.

Taking a deep breathe, Nisa charged Kurome wildly, slashing at her torso and stabbing her repeatedly. Kurome never even flinched, never even moved, never even blinked. Uzume could only watch in horror and confusion, unwilling to intervene in the off chance that maybe this was all intentional.

Nisa tackled Kurome to the ground, diverting her slashes and stabs to Kurome's neck and face, eventually lodging the nail file in Kurome's jaw bone. Throughout all of this, Kurome's face was unmoving. Nisa fell back, completely exhausted and completely shocked. The guard was unsure whether to shoot Nisa or not, Uzume was unsure if Kurome was even alive or not, and Nisa was unsure whether to try vaulting off the balcony or not.

"Guard... you can leave now." The words that broke a minute of silence. The guard, still completely in disbelief, nervously shut the door and strolled away.

Laughter. Not wheezy laughter, as you'd expect from someone with a slashed throat, but triumphant laughter, victorious laughter.

Kurome ripped the nail file from her jaw and threw it straight through Nisa's knee, forcing the maker to the floor in pain, all without ever moving from the floor.

"Uzume... fetch the sword" Kurome asked coldly, standing up as she did.

"Do you know what happens when a Goddess is hit by one of the two swords? She dies." Kurome strolled over to Nisa, and leaned over slightly. "Do you know happens when a human even touches one?"

Kurome knelt down, and looked Nisa right in the eyes.

"They cease to exist. Not as a body, not as ashes, not as particles, not as anything"

Uzume re-entered the room, and handed the sword over, planting a kiss on Kurome's cheek as she stood back. Raising the sword high with both hands, Kurome brought the blade down and impaled it into Nisa's already wounded leg. The instant it connected with her, Nisa's soul felt wrong

"You can leave now. Goodbye." Kurome said ever so smugly, completely aware of what awaited Nisa at the end.

The former leader of the PPC pulled herself to her feet and, faced with no other option, limped out of the Basilicom. As she limped through the streets of Planeptune, she began to notice her memories fading. Names, places, events, dates, all disappearing.

Where am I?
Where's Neptune? Gust?
...Who are Neptune, and Gust?
Why do I feel so warm?

Nisa continued walking, the only thing she knew how to do. Eventually, the tired heroine of justice collapsed in front of a hotel, on the grass lawn beside the fountain.

Who am I?

Justice's story ended where it began. With one last breathe, the heroine of Gamindustri faded into nothing.